All water appropriation permittees:
- Must report water use through Minnesota Permitting and Reporting System (MPARS) and pay annual water use fee by February 15 of each year.
- Report water conservation and efficiency on the DNR water conservation reporting system by March 30 of each year.
- NEW – beginning in 2020 water use reported in MPARS will auto-populate in the Water Conservation Reporting System.
The Water Conservation Reporting System collects annual water conservation data from cities, commercial, industrial and institutional water users, agricultural irrigators, golf courses, and livestock operations, and helps track Minnesota’s water conservation success. It supplements the Minnesota MPARS annual water-use report. The Water Conservation Reporting provides:
- Robust dashboards for analyzing water conservation measures
- Year-to-year data for trend analysis
- Methods to measure and record Minnesota’s water conservation achievements.
Annual statewide conservation report
Below is a brief summary of results from the 2019 report for Large Water Suppliers and Commercial, Industrial and Institutional permittees. Historical reports or other data are available upon request by contacting [email protected].
| Conservation Measure | Results |
|---|---|
| Reporting Success | 94% of the 348 invited water suppliers submitted data |
| Water Loss | Improvement in Water Loss - In total utilities have a water loss of 8.4%, a .48% improvement from last year number of 8.88% and meeting the DNR conservation goal of 10%. |
| Residential Gallons Per Capita Per Day (GPCD) | Improved Residential GPCD – In 2018, 92% of the utilities met the goal of 75 GPCD. This is an improvement from 2017, when 90% of the utilities met the goal of 75 GPCD. |
| Daily Peak Use Ratio | Improved peaking factor – In 2018, 80% of utilities met the peaking factor goal of 2.6. This is an improvement from 2017, when 75% of utilities met the peaking factor goal. |
| Customer Rebates | There was a fairly substantial drop in the number of utilities reporting customer water conservation projects, this is likely due to the end of the Metropolitan Council Water Efficiency Grant program. In 2018 there were 7,679 customer water conservation projects around the state for a water savings of over 52 million gallons. Last year there were 8,773 projects saving over 70 million gallons of water. The grant program was renewed starting in 2020. |
| Commercial, Industrial and Institutional (CII) Report | Over 40% of the CII water appropriation permittees completed the Water Conservation Report. 26% reported having a formal water conservation plan and 11% reported having one in development. |
| CII Reasons for Conserving Water | The number one reason for conserving water was to reduce operation costs for water and wastewater. Other reason for conserving water were for regulatory compliance and to reduce energy costs. |
| CII Factors Limiting Water Conservation | 58% of CII reported that the main factor limiting water conservation water was operation necessity. |
| CII Water Audits | 27% of CII reported completing a water audit. 11 businesses reported participating in the University of Minnesota MnTAP audits. |
Water conservation reporting system training materials
The Energy Savings Platform LLC, under contract with the DNR, developed the Minnesota Water Conservation Reporting System. In phases from 2018 through 2021, all appropriation permit holders will be trained and given access to the water conservation reporting system by January of their first reporting year, as follows:
| Types of Water Users | Reporting Due |
|---|---|
| Public water suppliers - serving more than 1,000 people | March 30, 2018 and every year after |
| Commercial, industrial and institutional Sectors | March 30, 2019 and every year after |
| Public Water Suppliers - serving less than 1,000 people | March 30, 2020 and every year after |
| Irrigation and Livestock Operations | March 30, 2021 and every year after |
Based upon the annual water conservation report, a summary document highlights water conservation accomplishments.
Reporting - printable worksheets
For municipalities, the following worksheets may be helpful for compiling your data. For definitions, more information on data requests, and navigable forms log in to your ESP Water account.
- Water Accounting, Water Supplied to Treatment
- Conservation - Direct, Conservation Projects - Water Supply System (Before the Customer Meter)
- Conservation - Indirect, Ordinances/Policy/Codes In Effect
Types of water users
- Public water suppliers - serving more than 1,000 people
The Demand Reduction Law requires water suppliers serving over 1,000 people to reduce water consumption.
Report system access
Effective 2018, the annual reporting period is January 2 through March 30. The DNR notifies water suppliers and sends an invitation to log into the Water Conservation Reporting System.
Reporting system training video and instructions
The training video explains how to complete the Water Conservation Reporting System. The video is approximately one hour.
- Commercial, industrial and institutional sectors
Report system access
The annual water conservation reporting period is January 2 through March 30, beginning in 2019. The DNR notifies permit holders and sends an invitation to log into the Water Conservation Reporting System.
Dewatering permits are exempt. Golf courses and sod farms can report in 2021.
Reporting system training video and instructions
The 45-minute training video and written instructions explain how to complete the Water Conservation Reporting fields.
- Public water suppliers - serving less than 1,000 people
Report system access
The annual water conservation reporting period is January 2 through March 30, effective 2020. The DNR notifies water suppliers and sends an invitation to log into the Water Conservation Reporting System.
Reporting system training video and instructions
The training video explains how to complete the Water Conservation Reporting System. The video is approximately one hour.
- Irrigation and Livestock Operations
Report system access
The annual water conservation reporting period is January 2 through March 30, beginning in 2021. Agricultural irrigators, golf courses, other non-crop irrigators, and livestock operators will be able to begin reporting in the fall of 2020. The DNR notifies permit holders and sends an invitation to log into the Water Conservation Reporting System.
Reporting system training video and instructions
The 45-minute training video and written instructions explain how to complete the Water Conservation Reporting fields. Available in October 2020.
Questions
- For policy and training questions including alternative formats for any needed accommodations, contact Carmelita Nelson (DNR Water Conservation Program) at 651-259-5034.
- For reporting system technical questions, contact Lori Bovitz (ESPWater Customer Service) at 866-258-6913.